BURLINGTON, N.C. — It was a battle that took more than three hours, but Providence finally completed a “calendar sweep” of the dual-team tennis championships on Saturday at the Burlington Tennis Center.

The Panthers defeated Cardinal Gibbons 5-3 for the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A girls title, its first in program history, and a calendar year bookend to pair with the boys’ championship from the spring.

Providence (20-1), the No. 2 seed from the West who dethroned defending champ Myers Park in the regional final, raced out to a 3-0 lead with victories at No. 2 singles by Natalya Wallace, No. 3 by Vivian Wu, and No. 6 by Katelyn Soden.

Gibbons (25-1), the No. 1 seed in the East, got a third-set tiebreaker win at No. 4 singles by Kylie Ryan. A win at No. 5 singles by Providence’s Caroline Artemenko made it 4-1 Panthers, but Gibbons No. 1 Celeste Davis — a 4A singles semifinalist — extended the match to doubles.

Gibbons’ Ava Staub and Kaya Jantac won at No. 3 doubles quickly to cut the lead to 4-3, but Providence’s No. 1 doubles team of Natalya and Aleksandra Wallace ended the match.

Natalya was named MVP of the match for her wins at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles.

The Crusaders, who have three NCHSAA dual-team titles, had not reached the dual-team final since winning the 3A crown in 2014. Providence had only made one prior appearance in the state championship, finishing runner-up in 4A back in 2001.

After the match, each team announced its sportsmanship winners. They were Providence’s Artemenko and Gibbons’ Staub.

Box Score: Providence 5, Cardinal Gibbons 3

Singles Matches

#1 — Celeste Davis (Cardinal Gibbons) def. Aleksandra Wallace (Providence) 7-5, 6-2
#2 — Natalya Wallace (Providence) def. Anya Aga (Cardinal Gibbons) 6-3, 6-0
#3 — Vivian Wu (Providence) def. Claire Stewart (Cardinal Gibbons) 6-0, 6-0
#4 — Kylie Ryan (Cardinal Gibbons) def. Ira Chitte (Providence) 1-6, 6-4 (10-8)
#5 — Caroline Artemenko (Providence) def. Lola Holderness (Cardinal Gibbons) 6-3, 6-3
#6 — Katelyn Soden (Providence) def. Lilly Heiden (Cardinal Gibbons) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles Matches

#1 — Aleksandra Wallace/Natalya Wallace (Providence) def. Celeste Davis/Anya Aga (Cardinal Gibbons) 8-3
(did not finish) #2 — Vivian Wu/Ira Chitte (Providence) led 5-2 vs. Claire Stewart/Lilly Heiden (Cardinal Gibbons)
#3 — Ava Staub/Kaya Jantac (Cardinal Gibbons) def. Caroline Artemenko/Katelyn Soden (Providence) 8-1

4A Dual-Team Championship MVP — Natalya Wallace (Providence)